Has Anyone tried a Decorating Franchise? I need feedback (credit, profit, franchises)

[LDDiamondGirl]

I am a designer and artist. I am researching a couple of decorating business franchises. I need honest feedback from someone. This is a business which is listed as one of the best Franchises for women. The start up is not astronomical because there's no brick & mortar, and you work from home.

Anyone having any info on Decorating Den, or Decor and You, or any other design Franchises, please respond. Thanks

[nodec]

I suggest that you stay away from this "opportunity"! After years of litigation, this "opportunity" cost us over $100,000. Even after the arbitrator found fault with them!!

[LDDiamondGirl]

Wow.. Thanks for the input. I would love to know more. I am not sure why some of these do so well, and some fail. This isn't the best time for decorating/furniture retailing. But, I thought their product was really nice. I guess one has to really do their homework before buying into a franchise.

[kshe95girl]

why not take the $$$$ you were going to take and open your own biz? I did, 2 years ago, its the best decision I ever made...... yes, its slow, but if you take on staging jobs, it will offset the slowness right now in the interior design sector.

[LDDiamondGirl]

Hi,
thanks for the reply about trying to open my own biz. Here is why I don't:

(this is also why most people want to buy a franchise rather than go out on their own)

1) I have no contacts/suppliers/vendors/in-roads to what I need.
2) I am completely new in town and have no connections to resources here
3) I have no experience in this business
4) I have no time/money/patience to make the kind of mistakes that accompany "flying by the seat of one's pants."
5) I am not near L.A. or S.F. where the design centers, trade shows, etc. are and to get there I need a liberal expense account for overnight travel, etc.
6) There are more Home Stagers in Santa Barbara than Sailboats. I have no connections in real estate here, and no experience doing that for profit either, although I have been doing it for myself and friends for years.


Any thoughts on this anyone????

[Buckhead_Broker]

Originally Posted by LDDiamondGirl

Hi,
thanks for the reply about trying to open my own biz. Here is why I don't:

(this is also why most people want to buy a franchise rather than go out on their own)

1) I have no contacts/suppliers/vendors/in-roads to what I need.
2) I am completely new in town and have no connections to resources here
3) I have no experience in this business
4) I have no time/money/patience to make the kind of mistakes that accompany "flying by the seat of one's pants."
5) I am not near L.A. or S.F. where the design centers, trade shows, etc. are and to get there I need a liberal expense account for overnight travel, etc.
6) There are more Home Stagers in Santa Barbara than Sailboats. I have no connections in real estate here, and no experience doing that for profit either, although I have been doing it for myself and friends for years.


Any thoughts on this anyone????

I hate to be the bearer of sad tidings here, but why the heck are you even considering a business of this type? A franchise isn't going to solve your problems. You still don't have contacts in the area, no experience, no time/money/patience, not close to the major design centers...the list goes on. Not to be mean, but why would ANYONE hire you to decorate their home? Just because you spend money on a franchise doesn't automatically mean you have knowledge, contacts, money, patience, etc. If I needed a decorator, I'd ask a friend whose house I admired who they used, not someone who had to buy a franchise to get into the business!

[Wild Style]

Originally Posted by LDDiamondGirl

I am a designer and artist. I am researching a couple of decorating business franchises. I need honest feedback from someone. This is a business which is listed as one of the best Franchises for women. The start up is not astronomical because there's no brick & mortar, and you work from home.

Anyone having any info on Decorating Den, or Decor and You, or any other design Franchises, please respond. Thanks

Do you live in a magical land that isn't in this decades worse housing and credit crashes? If so, then yeah, do that. If not, I wouldn't even think about it.

[thenakedtruthonline]

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